Khenpo Konchog Samdrup was born in Kham. He received Refuge vows from Garchen Rinpoche when he was 7 and ordained as a monk when he was 12 years old. After travelling with his root lama for 3 years he met the Dzogchen master Khenpo Munsel, from whom he received instructions on Trekchod and Togyal, as well as pointing out instructions on the nature of mind. At Khenpo Jigme Puntsok’s monastery in Amdo, he received many pith instructions, empowerments and teachings. He also visited the great yogi Khenpo Chokyab, from whom he received many pith instructions and clarifications on the meaning of texts. Due to restrictions he worked for a while as a teacher at his father’s small village school, as well as giving dharma instructions at the local monastery. Later, he studied for 4 years at Dzogsar Shedra and then graduated and taught at Kagyu College. He escaped to India, where he met and received the blessings of H.H. the Dalai Lama and H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche.